The determination of a spectroscopic binary orbit

Abstract

An efficient analytical method for determining the orbit of a spectroscopic binary is presented. The advantages of the method are: (1) its accuracy, (2) its rapidity, and (3) the possibility of making adjustments in the elements before the final presentation. This method seems to have very definite advantages in comparison to the other methods. It gives a standard set of velocity curves also, for a set of (e, omega) values with amplitude ranging between +1 K and -1 K. These curves in tabulated, or graphical form can be used in routine fashion for the determination of preliminary elements preparatory to a least-squares correction. Application to the velocity curve of Omicron And and Delta Ori is given.